Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Company Accounts

baroness bowles of berkhamsted: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Henley on 26 April (HL6971),what is the composition of the committee that produced the guidance issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland, from 2005 to date,including who each committee member worked for;how long they have served on that committee; and what was the tenure of that committee's chair.

lord henley: The guidance is published by the Institute for Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland to support their members. It is not prepared in fulfilment of a statutory obligation, or in response to any wider regulatory initiative. The processes for the preparation of the guidance and the involvement and constitution of committees in this are matters for the two institutes.

Business: Billing

lord mendelsohn: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many businesses they estimate are subject to the statutory duty to report payment practices and performance; and how many businesses have reported their payment practices and performance to date.

lord henley: In the Impact Assessment that accompanied the Reporting on Payment Practices and Performance Regulations 2017, we estimated that around 15,000 businesses were in scope. Companies are required to report at individual company level and to date around 7,200 companies have reported.

Business: Billing

lord mendelsohn: To ask Her Majesty's Government what processes there are to audit data provided by large businesses subject to the statutory duty to report on their payment practices and performance; and who is responsible for auditing such data.

lord henley: Businesses in scope of the regulations have a legal responsibility to submit correct data and reports must be approved by a named company director or, for a Limited Liability Partnership, a designated member. We are currently analysing the first year’s set of data and considering compliance issues.

Business: Billing

lord mendelsohn: To ask Her Majesty's Government what provisions are in place to allow for whistleblowing concerning data submitted by companies under their statutory duty to report on their payment practices and performance.

lord henley: Anyone can submit a comment or complaint concerning data submitted by companies under the duty to report on their payment practices and performance. A contact email address is provided on the relevant page of the government website: paymentpracticesreporting@beis.gov.uk.Furthermore, the Small Business Commissioner can provide advice and signposting on payment issues.

Business Premises: Construction

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of a recent decline in the growth of UK commercial construction projects.

lord henley: The Office of National Statistics publishes monthly statistics on construction output, which are influenced by many factors, including levels of investment and the weather. The latest figures show that construction output grew by 0.6% in November 2018 to an all-time monthly high, exceeding £14 billion for the first time. Construction output in the 3 months to November 2018 was 2.1% higher than in the previous period. Whilst most estimates suggested that commercial construction activity will decline slightly in 2018 and 2019, despite increases in October and November, this has been offset by increases in activity in the infrastructure and private housing sectors.

Research: Finance

baroness royall of blaisdon: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to improve access to information about sources of public funding in the UK to support international research collaboration and the mobility ofresearchers in the early stages of their careers.

lord henley: UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is committed to supporting international collaboration and promoting opportunities for doing so. The Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF), the Newton Fund and the Fund for International Collaboration (FIC) are all specific avenues for UK researchers and innovators to develop international partnerships. Information about funding available for international collaboration is available on the UKRI website, as well as on individual Research Council websites. Information about funded research and innovation is available through Gateway to Research, including projects funded through the GCRF, the Newton Fund and the FIC. Social media platforms, such as Twitter and Facebook, additionally allow UKRI to advertise opportunities for funding. UKRI works closely with the Research Organisation Consultation Group to disseminate funding information through UK research organisations. The UK Science and Innovation Network (operated as part of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office), and Universities UK International are also well placed to promote these opportunities.

Factories: Productivity

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact offalls in factory output onthe recent growth slowdown inthe UK manufacturing sector.

lord henley: Whilst the latest Index of Production figures for December 2018 show that manufacturing output fell by 0.7% on the previous month, in fact, manufacturing output for the entirety of 2018 rose by 0.9% compared to 2017 levels. The government recognises that the manufacturing sector remains a vital contributor to the economy of the UK, driving innovation, exports, job creation, and productivity growth. The sector supports 2.7 million jobs, generates 49% of the UK total exports of goods and services, and accounts for 66% of all business expenditure on UK R&D. Through our modern Industrial Strategy and Made Smarter – our key national industrial digitalisation programme – we are building an economy fit for the future. In the process, we are exploiting the wealth of opportunities from next generation technologies that foster competitive business environments, allowing for UK manufacturing to flourish. As the 9th largest global manufacturing economy, we are – and will continue to be – a major manufacturing nation.

Shipbuilding

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to (1) protect jobs, and (2) boost productivity, in the UK shipbuilding industry.

lord henley: The National Shipbuilding Strategy published in 2017 set out how the Ministry of Defence would transform the way it procures naval ships. The Strategy committed the government to work with the industry to improve public procurement, increase trade and drive innovation.An industry led Maritime Enterprise Working Group is undertaking a long-term programme of improvements for the UK shipbuilding industry. Its membership includes the major UK shipbuilders, government and universities.The Group commissioned a Shipbuilding Market Evaluation and Competitiveness Study that is due to report shortly. The findings of the study will enable the UK shipbuilding industry to focus on specific productivity improvements based on the opportunities for the industry in terms of the domestic and international markets for commercial and naval ships, which could secure jobs for the long term.

Department of Health and Social Care

Obesity

lord brooke of alverthorpe: To ask Her Majesty's Government what support and assistance they plan to offer obese people with a body mass index of 30 and above who have not been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes or hypertension.

baroness blackwood of north oxford: Public Health England (PHE) has a responsibility to support the local delivery of evidence-based, effective and sustainable weight management services, as recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), which support adults who are obese (that is, with a body mass index over 30 kg/m2, or lower for those from black and minority ethnic groups) or with other risk factors.PHE provides practitioners, commissioners and providers of tier 2 weight management services with a range of resources to support the commissioning and delivery of these services. This includes:- Guidance on how services should include diet, physical activity, and behaviour change components; and- A tool to support the implementation of evidence-based behaviour change techniques.A copy of this tool, Changing Behaviour: Techniques for Tier 2 Adult Weight Management Services, is attached.NICE has also produced a guideline, Weight management: lifestyle services for overweight or obese adults, aimed at commissioners, health professionals, providers of lifestyle weight management programmes, adults who are overweight or obese, their families and other members of the public. This guideline covers lifestyle weight management services including programmes, courses, clubs or groups provided by the public, private and voluntary sector. The aim is to help people lose weight and become more physically active to reduce the risk of diseases associated with obesity. A copy of NICE’s guideline is attached.



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HL13442 attached document
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Department for International Development

Gaza: Trade

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bates on 28 January (HL12814), what increases have been achieved for the import and export of goods into and from Gaza in the past 12 months.

lord bates: There was a slight reduction in the numbers of truckloads entering and leaving Gaza every month on average in 2018 compared to 2017*. In 2017 an average of 9,876 truckloads (other than fuel) entered and 218 truckloads left Gaza each month; whereas in 2018 an average of 8,843 truckloads (other than fuel) entered and 217 left Gaza each month. The 2018 averages conceal major fluctuations in trade flows, primarily due to escalations in violence which led to tighter movement restrictions.   The UK consistently calls for an end to all violence and regularly calls on the Israeli authorities to ease their restrictions to support ordinary Palestinians living standards and to support legal trade into and out of the Gaza strip. We also fund the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism (GRM) which enables Gazan businesses, as well as citizens and families, to get access to imported reconstruction materials following widespread destruction in the 2014 conflict.   *DFID has come to this conclusion from OCHA’s reporting of monthly averages of truckloads exiting and entering Gaza (excluding truckloads entering Gaza carrying fuel) in 2017 and 2018.

Gaza: Job Creation

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bates on 28 January (HL12814), what measures they have taken to support job creation in the Gaza Strip in the past 12 months.

lord bates: In 2018, DFID's Palestinian Market Development Programme (PMDP) worked to support businesses and to help job creation in Gaza. Over the programme lifetime (2013-2018) the PMDP successfully supported 470 businesses and created around 1,550 jobs in Gaza.   DFID also continued to support the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism (GRM) which has enabled Gazan businesses, as well as citizens and families, to gain access to reconstruction materials following widespread destruction in the 2014 conflict.   HMG officials have also continued to call on the Israeli authorities to ease their restrictions to improve the living standards of ordinary Palestinians, and to support legal trade into and out of the Gaza strip.

Gaza

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Bates on 28 January (HL12814), what improvements they hope to see in the conditions in Gaza in the next five years.

lord bates: Within the next five years the UK Government hopes to see an improvement in access to clean water, energy and jobs in Gaza. We would also like to see all parties ease movement and access restrictions. This would make it easier for Gazans to sell their goods to Israel and other countries in the region; and for small businesses to grow and create jobs. DFID's new economic development programme will support all these activities. However, we are clear that a durable agreement is needed to address the underlying causes of the conflict and to transform the situation in Gaza. This is why the UK continues to support progress towards a two-state solution that permanently ends the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Such an agreement should ensure that Hamas and other terrorist groups permanently end rocket fire and attacks against Israel and accept the Quartet Principles; the Palestinian Authority resumes control in Gaza and restores effective and accountable governance; and that Israel lifts its restrictions to ease the suffering of ordinary Palestinians and allow the Gazan economy to grow.

Burma: Peace Negotiations

baroness nye: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to conduct an independent review of support given to the peace process in Burma as recommended by the House of Commons International Development Committee in its fourth report of Session 2017–19,Bangladesh, Burma and the Rohingya Crisis(HC Paper 1054), published on 22 May 2018.

lord bates: Following the IDC report, we conducted a comprehensive joint analysis of conflict and stability in Burma, and DFID initiated a review of its country strategy. On the peace process, the main vehicle for the UK’s support, the Joint Peace Fund, has undergone a thorough independent assessment of progress and challenges.   In addition, DFID’s peacebuilding programme is reviewed annually, as is all support under the cross-departmental Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF), led by the FCO.   The UK remains committed to providing assistance to a wide range of efforts to reach an inclusive peace agreement in Burma. It will also continue to address the protracted crises in Rakhine, Kachin, Shan and other states through humanitarian and development assistance.

Gaza: Sewage

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made in reconstructing sewage works in Gaza and ensuring that those works function reliably.

lord bates: The UK has not supported reconstruction of sewage works in Gaza but has funded improved water and sanitation through UNICEF; and plans to improve water and wastewater services by funding the World Bank. In 2018, DFID committed to supporting the World Bank’s Water Security Development Programme (WSDP). The programme is currently in the design phase but will focus on supporting infrastructure for the water network related to the Gaza Central Desalination Programme and provide technical support to the Palestinian Water Authority. The technical assistance will include support to improve water and wastewater services. To address Gaza’s water and sanitation crisis in 2018, DFID provided £2 million to UNICEF to help reduce the spread of disease by disinfecting water in 280 water wells, 38 desalination plants, and 40 water reservoirs. This support has improved access to water and sanitation services for 2 million people in Gaza.

Department for Education

Further Education: Teachers

lord storey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the average pay rise for teaching staff in further education colleges in each of the last three years.

lord storey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the average pay rise for principals of further education institutions in each of the last three years.

lord agnew of oulton: Further education colleges are autonomous institutions. Responsibility for setting the pay of staff and of college principals rests with the relevant governing body.Information regarding the average pay rise for teaching staff is not held centrally.Information on principals’ remuneration is provided in colleges’ audited accounts. The average change in pay, as disclosed in those accounts, is as follows: YearAverage change in pay2015/163.66%2016/171.55%2017/182.93%[1]  [1] 2017/18 figure is a provisional estimate based on financial returns received to date, covering approximately 90% of colleges.

Disabled Students' Allowances: Dyslexia

lord addington: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the SpLD Assessment Standards Committee will recognise assessments carried out by Associate Members of the British Dyslexia Association for children under 16 for the purposes of the Disabled Students' Allowance without the need for a second assessment.

lord addington: To ask Her Majesty's Government how common it is for those holding a British Dyslexia Association Assessment Practising Certificate to be involved with dyslexia assessments for those under the age of 16.

viscount younger of leckie: It is the department, not the SpLD Assessment Standards Committee, that decides which diagnostic assessments should be recognised as suitable evidence to determine eligibility for Disabled Students’ Allowances. The department is currently considering which accreditation requirements should be met for diagnostic assessments carried out on young people below the age of 16.Information regarding the qualifications or professional memberships of those undertaking dyslexia assessments for young people below the age of 16 is not held centrally, nor is it held by the Student Loans Company.

Erasmus+ Programme

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that university funding may be lost for UK students wishing to study abroad under the Erasmus scheme in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

viscount younger of leckie: We are in close contact and working with the UK National Agency to ensure that in the event that the UK leaves the EU with no agreement in place, the government’s guarantee on Erasmus will cover the payment of awards to UK applicants for all successful Erasmus+ bids submitted before the end of 2020.The UK government has repeatedly made clear that it values international exchange and collaboration in education and training as part of its vision for a global Britain, and we believe that the UK and European countries should continue to give young people and students the chance to benefit from each other’s world leading universities post-exit. This is reliant on the UK government reaching agreement with the EU for UK organisations to continue participating in Erasmus+ projects and we are seeking to hold these discussions with the EU.We published a new technical notice, attached, at the end of January, which provides detailed guidance to organisations and students on the UK’s anticipated participation in the current Erasmus+ programme (2014 to 2020) in the event of no deal. The notice can also be found at: https://bit.ly/2GaP28y.



HL13536_Erasmus_Technical_Notice
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Ministry of Justice

Magistrates' Courts: Wales

lord jones: To ask Her Majesty's Government which magistrates' courts have closed in Wales since 2010.

lord keen of elie: Since 2010, the following magistrates’ court closures have taken place: Aberdare Magistrates’ Court (co-located with Aberdare County Court)Abertillery Magistrates’ CourtAmmanford Magistrates’ CourtBarry Magistrates’ CourtCardigan Magistrates’ CourtChepstow Magistrates’ CourtDenbigh Magistrates’ CourtFlint Magistrates’ CourtLlandovery Magistrates’ CourtLlangefni Magistrates’ CourtLlwynypia Magistrates’ CourtPwllheli Magistrates’ CourtNeath Magistrates’ CourtAbergavenny Magistrates’ CourtCaerphilly Magistrates’ CourtBrecon Law CourtsBridgend Law CourtsCarmarthen Law Courts (The Guildhall)Dolgellau Crown and Magistrates’ CourtHolyhead Magistrates’ CourtPontypridd Magistrates’ CourtPrestatyn Magistrates’ Court [building remained open as Prestatyn Justice Centre, rehousing work from Rhyl] The closure of any court is not taken lightly – it only happens following full public consultation. We have been clear that courts are only being closed where they are underused, dilapidated or too close to another.

Magistrates' Courts: Wales

lord jones: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many magistrates' courts there were in Wales in (1) 2010, and (2) 2018.

lord keen of elie: There were 36 magistrates’ courts in Wales 2010 and 14 magistrates’ courts in Wales in 2018. Magistrates’ court closures in Wales have taken place following public consultation and only when the Lord Chancellor was satisfied that effective access to justice could be maintained. We have closed poor quality, smaller and less efficient courts allowing for resources to be concentrated into a smaller number of better quality and more flexible buildings.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Private Rented Housing: Registration

lord bassam of brighton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment have they made of the case for introducing a nationwide registration of landlords and their properties in England, as in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: The Government has no plans to introduce a system of national registration for private landlords. Government is instead focussed on tackling rogue landlords. In April 2018, using powers under the Housing and Planning Act 2016, we introduced a national database of rogue landlords and property agents. We are committed to making this database publicly accessible as soon as parliamentary time allows.Moreover, and unlike in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, local housing authorities in England are also able to introduce selective licensing of landlords in targeted areas to tackle specific problems, as long as the statutory requirements are met. We have commissioned an independent review of the effectiveness of selective licencing which is on track to report in the spring 2019.

United Kingdom Holocaust Memorial Foundation

viscount eccles: To ask Her Majesty's Government when responsibility for the UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation will be transferred to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport; and how.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: There are no plans to transfer responsibility for the UK Holocaust Foundation to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. The Holocaust Memorial Foundation provides independent advice to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government who has overall responsibility for the delivery of the Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre.

National Holocaust Memorial Centre and Learning Service

viscount eccles: To ask Her Majesty's Government what expenditure of public funds has been made to date on the UK Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: From 2015/16 to the end of January 2019 the Government has spent £4.8 million on the Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre programme.

National Holocaust Memorial Centre and Learning Service

viscount eccles: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they havemade of the risk that the UK Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre will attract the attention of Holocaust-deniers and anti-Zionists if it is sited close to Parliament.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: The Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre will have security arrangements similar to the many other public buildings in Westminster. By using the latest technology and security methodology available we intend for the security aspects to be integrated into the design so it does not impact on the visitor experience.To achieve this we are working with security experts, government agencies and the Metropolitan Police to ensure the necessary security measures are put in place.

National Holocaust Memorial Centre and Learning Service

viscount eccles: To ask Her Majesty's Government what consultation has taken place, or is intended, with the UK Jewish community about the UK Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: The UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation has engaged extensively with all interested parties, including organisations and members of the Jewish community.

Religious Hatred: Islam

lord pearson of rannoch: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact ofthe All-Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims' working definition of Islamophobia, as set out in its reportIslamophobia defined: the inquiry into a working definition of Islamophobia, published in November 2018, on (1) the efficacy of counter-extremism and integration policies, (2) the ability to study, investigate and criticise political and radical Islam, and (3) community relations, in particular for moderate or liberal Muslims and the Ahmadiyya Muslim community.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: We are examining the options for a definition of Islamophobia and intend to examine this issue through the newly appointed Anti-Muslim Hatred Working Group. Any such approach would need to be considered carefully to ensure that this would have the positive effect intended.

Service Charges

baroness thornhill: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to stop landowners and managing agents from using service charges to recover legal defence costs from home owners who they have entered legal disputes with.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: Leaseholders can apply to the Tribunal at any time to make an order under section 20C of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 for the court or tribunal to limit or prevent the recovery of legal costs via the service charge. In addition Section 131 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016 amended the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002 to give the courts and tribunals a discretionary power to reduce or extinguish a leaseholders liability to pay a particular administration charge in respect of litigation costs.

Residents Associations

baroness thornhill: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to allow Residents Associations to perform the same functions as Resident Management Companies in communities where the Residents’ Association represents the majority of home owners.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: There are no plans to allow residents' associations to perform the same function as resident management companies. Instead, the Government has asked the Law Commission to review and streamline the current right to manage procedures, to make it quicker and easier for leaseholders and leasehold resident associations to take control of their buildings. The Law Commission is currently consulting on its proposals, which can be found at www.lawcom.gov.uk/project/right-to-manage. The consultation closes on 30 April.

Private Rented Housing: Licensing

baroness thornhill: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of selective licensing schemes; when they intend to publish their review of the scheme; and whether they intend to support local authorities to expand the scheme.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: In September last year the Government commissioned a thorough and independent review into the effectiveness of selective licensing. This is on schedule to report in Spring 2019. The Department will consider the outcomes of the review carefully and does not intend to pre-empt its findings with regard to changes in legislation or policy.

Ministry of Defence

European Defence Fund

lord west of spithead: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they anticipate the UK receiving any money from the European Defence Fund before the UK no longer has access to that fund as a result of Brexit.

earl howe: The European Defence Fund (EDF) will be launched in 2021. It is being trialled through two programmes, the Preparatory Action for Defence Research (PADR), which is running from 2017 to 2019, and the European Defence Industrial Development Programme (EDIDP), which will run from 2019 to 2020. UK industry is already benefiting financially from participation in the PADR. The EDIDP Work Programme is expected to be agreed this month and includes areas of interest to the UK. Proposals are not expected until mid-2019. Whilst UK firms are eligible to bid, it is too early to say whether they will receive funding.The Political Declaration envisages the participation of eligible United Kingdom entities in collaborative EDF projects from 2021, to the extent possible under Union law. Under the current draft terms of the EDF, only entities based in the EU and European Free Trade Association-European Economic Area countries will be entitled to receive EU funding through the Programme.

Radar

lord west of spithead: To ask Her Majesty's Government whenthey estimate the Radar Reviewwill provide recommendations to the Ministry of Defence on the future approach to funding and development of the next generation of defence radars.

earl howe: The Ministry of Defence is currently undergoing a preliminary scoping analysis to consider our strategic objectives and understand any risks in our current and future Radar capabilities. We aim to conclude the first 'understand' phase in the spring which will set out the scope, structure and timelines for any further phases of work that may be required.

Department for Work and Pensions

Jobcentres

baroness lister of burtersett: To ask Her Majesty's Government what arrangements are in place to safeguard the interests of vulnerable people receiving a service from Jobcentre Plus.

baroness lister of burtersett: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there is a nominated Vulnerable People’s Champion in every Jobcentre Plus.

baroness lister of burtersett: To ask Her Majesty's Government how the vulnerability of adult survivors of child sexual exploitation is taken into account by Jobcentre Plus staff and Department for Work and Pensions contractors.

baroness buscombe: DWP is committed to providing the best possible support for all our claimants, including the most vulnerable in society. We are continuously reviewing and improving the service for vulnerable people to ensure that it is accessible and responsive to their needs. Specific training and guidance is provided for all staff on working with different vulnerable groups. This includes developing the skills they need to support and communicate with a diverse range of customers, and specific training is provided for working with different vulnerable groups. We provide a tailored service that recognises those with complex needs at any point throughout their journey. Work Coaches will tailor conditionality, setting requirements based on what is reasonable for the individual’s circumstances. A claimant’s work search and availability requirements can be switched off for an agreed period of time, and other work-related requirements may be lifted too, where appropriate. This includes where the claimant has suffered domestic violence and abuse, or periods where a child in their care is suffering distress due to experiencing or witnessing violence or abuse. To assist identification and claimant support, each Jobcentre Plus site has a complex needs toolkit in place. These are maintained and reviewed locally and contain a named single point of contact for areas such as Homelessness, Care leavers and Prison leavers. Jobcentre staff also have access to information on services and support available in their local area for vulnerable claimants and will signpost claimants to national and local organisations who provide specialist support.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Waste: Exports

baroness jones of whitchurch: To ask Her Majesty's Government what emergency plans are in place to deal with the potential stockpiles of waste which would no longer have valid export licences if the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

lord gardiner of kimble: There is a process in place to ensure the continuity of notified waste shipments in the case of a no-deal scenario, which was set out by the European Commission in November last year. We have received agreement to roll over 98% of existing consents for waste exports to the EU from the UK - agreeing 545 out of the 556 current approvals. This means that 99.7% of the waste which requires consent has a valid export licence from 30 March this year if the UK leaves the EU without a deal. We expect to reach agreement on the outstanding approvals and we are confident that leaving the EU without a deal would not have a significant impact on the continued export of the UK’s notified waste shipments that have already been agreed. In December last year, the Environment Agency began assessing waste disposal capacity particularly in the south east of England, in case waste that cannot be exported should need to be disposed of. Staff across the Environment Agency are engaging with operators to identify where issues, including stockpiling, may arise. The Environment Agency is ready to respond to requests from industry for additional storage of waste and will process any such requests as promptly as it can.

Air Pollution

lord judd: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the forthcoming Environment Bill and all other relevant environmental legislation enshrines legally binding provisions to meet air quality standards, set out by the World Health Organization.

lord gardiner of kimble: The draft Environment Bill, published in December last year, would place the 25 Year Environment Plan on a statutory footing by establishing a new statutory cycle of environmental planning, monitoring and reporting. The Government also committed to exploring the inclusion of additional targets for environmental improvement within this cycle. In the Environment Bill policy paper, also published in December last year, we reaffirmed that improving air quality is a key part of our plan to leave the environment in a better state than we found it. In our Clean Air Strategy, published in January this year, we set out our ambition to reduce people’s exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and committed to setting a new, ambitious, long-term target to reduce people’s exposure to PM2.5. We also committed to publishing a report this year examining what action would need to be taken to meet the World Health Organization’s (WHO) PM2.5 annual mean guideline level of 10μg/m3, and we will use this evidence to inform the target which we set. The actions in the Strategy will reduce concentrations of PM2.5 for everyone, resulting in a halving of the number of people living in areas with annual mean concentrations of PM2.5 above the WHO’s guideline level of 10μg/m3 by 2025, compared with 2016. We are the first major economy to set out ambitions based on the WHO’s PM2.5 targets, and our Clean Air Strategy was welcomed by the WHO’s Director General as “an example for the rest of the world to follow.”

Home Office

Borders: Northern Ireland

lord bassam of brighton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what planning the Home Office has undertaken with regard to the technical means by which a soft border on the island of Ireland may be retained, other than by way of the EU Withdrawal Agreement.

baroness williams of trafford: Her Majesty’s Government has undertaken planning to avoid a hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland but will not be giving further details at this stage.The UK Government has been resolute in its commitments to Northern Ire-land and remains committed to avoiding a ‘hard border.

Borders: Northern Ireland

lord bassam of brighton: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many crossing points there are on the island of Ireland between the UK and the Republic of Ireland; and what estimate they have made of how many vehicle movements take place each day at such points; and what percentage of these are commercially related vehicle movements.

baroness williams of trafford: The data used by the Home Office regarding vehicle movements between UK and the Republic of Ireland is from the Department of Infrastructure (Northern Ireland) published on the Parliament UK website entitled The Land border between Northern Ireland and Ireland. The link to this paper can be found below: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmniaf/329/32904.htm#_idTextAnchor009The land border between Northern Ireland and Ireland Contents - introduction from the publication.1.The UK Government and the European Union (EU) both acknowledge the unique circumstances of Northern Ireland in the light of the UK’s decision to leave the EU. Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK that will share a land border with the EU after Brexit. In the referendum, Northern Ireland voters voted to remain in the EU by a majority of 56% to 44%. In UK as a whole, voters voted by 52% to 48% to leave the EU. Northern Ireland’s constitutional framework, under the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, has a distinctive cross-border dimension. Once the UK leaves the EU, the land border in Northern Ireland will change from an internal to an external EU border. This report considers the implications of the UK’s changing relationship with the EU for the Northern Ireland land border.Information regarding CTA movements can be found on the additional data paper published on the parliament UK website. The link to this paper can be found below.https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/638137/Additional_Data_Paper_-_Northern_Ireland_Common_Travel_Area.pdf



Add Data Paper Northern Ireland Common Travel Area
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HOC Publication - HL13433 
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Immigration Controls: Republic of Ireland

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to reassure Irish citizens who reside in the UK that (1) their right of abode will remain, withoutsuch citizens needing to take action, and (2) they are free to return directly to the UK from overseas destinations, before and after Brexit.

baroness williams of trafford: Irish citizens residing in the UK do not need to do anything to protect their status in the UK, either before or after the UK leaves the EU. They will continue to be able to enter and reside in the UK and to enjoy their existing rights as provided for by the long-standing Common Travel Area (CTA) arrangements.The UK Government has been clear since the EU Exit Referendum that these rights will be protected. The Home Secretary reaffirmed during the second reading of the Immigration and Social Security Coordination Bill that the rights of Irish citizens to enter and remain in the UK are protected. This position has been set out in various Government publications including Northern Ireland-Ireland Position paper (August 2017) and The UK’s future skills-based immigration system White Paper (December 2018). Commu-nications for EEA nationals on what action needs to be taken after the UK has left the EU include specific messages confirming that Irish citizens are not required to take action to protect their status or entitlements.

Immigration Controls: Republic of Ireland

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of the Republic of Ireland about allowing (1) Irish, and (2) UK citizens the freedom to (a) come and go between the UK and the Republic of Ireland, and (b) seek employment and establish residence in the UK, without special formalities, both before and after Brexit.

baroness williams of trafford: The Common Travel Area (CTA) arrangements allow British and Irish citizens to travel freely within the CTA without seeking permission from the authorities. They also provide for British citizens in Ireland and Irish citizens in the UK to be able to work in either country without any requirement to obtain permission from the authorities.These arrangements pre-date membership of the EU. The UK and Ireland are working closely to protect these rights after the UK leaves the EU.

Immigration: Windrush Generation

lord ouseley: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 21 January (HL12603), how many interim or emergency payments have been made to date to affected Windrush generation individuals awaiting the introduction of the planned compensation scheme; what is the total value of any such payments; when the scheme will be launched; and what assessment they have made of whether any of those individuals who are currently being deported to the Commonwealth Caribbean countries are members of the Windrush generation.

baroness williams of trafford: The Home Secretary provides the Home Affairs Select Committee with monthly updates on the work of the department in connection with Windrush. This will include information on the urgent and exceptional support provided before the Compensation Scheme is in placeThe monthly updates can be found at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/correspondence-on-the-work-of-the-home-office-windrushWe will announce details of the final scheme and how to apply as soon as possible.None of those being deported are British citizens or members of the Windrush generation, who are exempt under section 7 of the Immigration Act 1971 



HASC Windrush Update - Nov-Dec 2018
(PDF Document, 620.36 KB)

Deportation: Charter Flights

lord roberts of llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to restart deportation charter flights; and if so, what they estimate the cost of any such flights to be.

baroness williams of trafford: Returns charter flights remain an important means by which we return illegal migrants and Foreign National Offenders without a right to remain in the UK.For operational reasons, it is not possible to disclose full details of the returns charter flight programme.In the 2017/18 financial year we spent £11.3 million on returns charter flight operations.

Immigration: Appeals

lord roberts of llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many immigration decisions were overturned on appeal in (1) 2015, (2) 2016, and (3) 2017.

baroness williams of trafford: HM Courts and Tribunals Service publish appeal outcomes data on a quarterly basis. A link to the most recent available data is provided here;https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/tribunals-and-gender-recognition-certificate-statistics-quarterly-july-to-september-2018 The table in FIA¬_3 in the attached document contains the information requested; see summary below.3. Immigration and Asylum First-tier Tribunal Immigration and Asylum Chamber (FTTIAC)  In July to September 2018, FTTIAC receipts increased by 16% (to 11,200) compared to the same period in 2017.  In the same period, disposals and caseload outstanding decreased by 10% (to 15,500) and 13% (to 31,500) respectively, with the latter continuing the decline seen since the peak in April to June 2016, due to the volume of receipts being consistently lower than that of disposals since this peak. 



Tribunals and Gender Reg Cert July-Sept 2018
(PDF Document, 892.37 KB)

Immigration: Windrush Generation

lord roberts of llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the grounds for the eviction and deportation of Willow Sims following her loss of the right to work.

baroness williams of trafford: Ms Sims is not subject to deportation action and arrangements are in place to help confirm her immigration status in the UK.

Refugees: Homelessness

lord shipley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to prevent homelessness amongst newly recognised refugees after the 28 day move-on period.

baroness williams of trafford: The Government have implemented a number of initiatives to ensure that refugees are able to access benefits and housing promptly once any support they been provided by the Home Office ends 28 days after the grant of their status.Refugees are eligible to receive assistance with housing from their local authority, in the same way as British Citizens or other permanent residents of the UK, and are treated as a priority need if they have children or are considered vulnerable. Asylum accommodation providers are under a contractual duty to refer these cases to the appropriate local authority.We are also working with MHCLG to pilot “Local Authority Asylum Liaison Officers” (LAASLOs), who role is to provide assistance to people leaving asylum support, in particular with access to housing.

Cabinet Office

Interserve

lord beecham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the performance, and (2) the future of Interserve in the delivery of services commissioned by them orpublic bodies.

lord young of cookham: The various contracting authorities, such as individual departments, manage their contracts with Interserve including monitoring of performance against each contract.The Cabinet Office monitors the financial health of all of our strategic suppliers, including Interserve, and have regular discussions with the company’s management. Interserve announced on 06 February 2019 that it had agreed the key commercial terms of its deleveraging plan with its lenders, bonding providers and Pension Trustee. We welcome this announcement and recognise that it is a key milestone for the company in delivering the long term plan that it set out in 2018.

Treasury

UK Trade with EU

lord chidgey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to limit any disruption to EU–UK trade flows that may arise from a no-deal Brexit.

lord bates: The Government is committed to supporting businesses and recognises the importance of trade fluidity for goods through the UK’s borders. HMRC are introducing temporary easements for a no deal scenario making it easier for businesses to import goods from the EU using Roll on Roll off locations. Once registered, businesses will be able to transport goods into the UK without having to make full declarations at the border, and will be able to postpone paying import duties for a short period.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Food: Advertising

lord brooke of alverthorpe: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they estimate the consultation conducted by Ofcom on the proposal for a watershed on advertising foods with high fat, salt and sugar content will be (1) completed, and (2) published.

lord ashton of hyde: In the second chapter of the Government's Childhood Obesity Plan, the Government committed to consult on introducing a 9pm watershed on TV advertising of HFSS products and similar protection for children viewing adverts online - with the aim of reducing children’s exposure to HFSS advertising, and incentivising sugar and calorie reduction. We will be publishing the consultation at the earliest opportunity. As far as we are aware, Ofcom has no current plans for any equivalent consultation.

Public Sector: Mutual Societies

lord maude of horsham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what public service mutuals have been created since May 2010; and what is the current status of each one.

lord ashton of hyde: Public service mutuals are under no obligation to notify the Government’s Mutuals Team, based in DCMS, when they are created or if they cease operating. There is therefore no formal register of the number of public service mutuals. However our records show that 119 public service mutuals have been created since May 2010. Of these, 110 continue to be active. Nine no longer operate, with their services either no longer delivered, or now delivered within the public sector or by another private sector organisation. The government has committed £4 million between 2017-2020 to support the growth and development of the mutuals sector.

Mobile Phones: Fees and Charges

baroness neville-rolfe: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they are having with Ofcom and mobile network operators, in the event of a no-deal Brexit, to (1) seek assurances that such operators will continue to incorporate overseas calls and internet access in their existing contracts for consumers, and (2) enable consumers to switch from contracts that have changed as a result of any new rules on roaming.

lord ashton of hyde: Ministers and officials have carried out extensive engagement on EU exit with representatives of the telecommunications industry, trade bodies, consumer bodies and the regulator Ofcom. In the event of no deal, the government has published a technical notice on mobile roaming. The Technical notice is available here: www.gov.uk/government/publications/mobile-roaming-if-theres-no-brexit-deal/mobile-roaming-if-theres-no-brexit-deal. On switching, certain changes in contractual terms during the term of a contract give the customer the right to exit that contract without penalty. For mobile phone contracts, telecoms companies have to follow rules set out by Ofcom. These set out that a customer is able to exit their contract penalty-free if the change in price under new roaming policies was considered to be material.